Consulting with Automobile Service Professionals

In order to proceed in the design of the AutoMindr system, we need to meet with car maintenance professionals to gather their input regarding best practices for car maintenance. We also need to consult with technology experts regarding implementation possibilities.

AutoMindr Pro

AutoMindr Pro is an app for advanced or professional car maintainers. This tool would include features like a gas log and a place to generate data tables and graphs. There is a potential capturing trained and/or expert users with tools like gas log. There would be the potential to utilize these users as content developers.

AutoMindr - The Game

It seems that AutoMindr would fit well as a game where the user is a care provider for their car. Successful games similar to this exist today, but they focus on an entirely digital object. In our case, rather than an exclusively virtual “pet” or virtual “farm,” AutoMindr cars exist in both physical world-spaces and a virtual game-space. We would like to perform a competitive review to see how similar games operate. Currently, we have identified WebKinz, FarmVille, and Sims, and we would like to know of any others.

Claims Testing

Most Important Items to Test

Claim	View	User Role	Goal	Measures	Evidence
Prompts should not be intrusive…triggers should consider location and time.	push messages via smartphone	driver	Users will use Automindr prompts most of the time.	Survey drivers to determine likelihood to respond to pushed prompt. Test prompts of various time estimates. Run survey at a gas station and apartment complex.	at least 7 out of 10 say yes.
Proficient and expert car maintainers do not want to be bogged down with tutorials.	push messages via smartphone	proficient and experts	Users can easily opt out of tutorials as well as not be pestered by offers of tutorials.	prototype walk-through with proficient/expert users.	Conduct prototype walk-through with three proficient testers. If all successfully opt-out and can use the opt-out functionality with ease, the test is successful. Otherwise, take user feedback to improve the prototype and retest again with 2-3 new testers.
Users don't want to be overwhelmed when the system prompts them for information	information-gathering prompts	driver (mostly novice)	Giving and obtaining information in granular pieces	a/b test between large form and granular form, ask users which they prefer	majority of users surveyed prefer the granular form drawn out over time
does a user find it creepy that AutoMindr passively monitors their location? Tested by asking	push messages via smartphone	driver	determine whether or not location tracking is creepy or helpful to user	ask user hypothetical quesiton: if this app tracked your location to provide the best times for maintenance prompts, would you be ok with that?	7/10 users find this acceptable
After being prompted for data, drivers can quickly submit data.	push messages via smartphone	Driver	Proficient and novice users can answer short answer data-collections questions from AutoMindr.	Users are able to enter mileage after being prompted for it.	4/4 complete task successfully.
Novice car maintainers are able to complete a maintenance task after being prompted by AutoMindr and following the appropriate tutorial.	push messages via smartphone	Driver (novice car maintainers)	Novice users learn how to maintain their car if they do not know how already	Walk-through of prototype- with a given example. For example, ask users to gather data regarding their tire tread.	3/4 testers that are novice car maintainers are able to use the prototype to complete a maintenance task.
language of prompts should explain jargon…tested with A/B tests of prompts with different language *	push messages via smartphone	Driver- Generally novice	novice users should be able to understand car-related jargon in context of prompt	a/b test with language of prompts 1 version with jargon-rich language the other with more 'laymans style' language	majority of users prefer the layman's-style language
images in the tutorials AND feedback screens (for advanced users)* *	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver	giving a visual of the task being performed	a/b test with tutorials with and without images	7/10 users find this feature helpful when asked
When time comes for part replacements, AutoMindr gives specs of the product as well as important buying information (the 22'' [Tire specs here] tire you're buying should be between $$ and $$.)	view using the smartphone application	Driver- Generally novice	Able to quickly and easily purchase products to perform car maintenance	present alert that a replacement part is needed, and give specs of the part…ask user if this information is helpful. Users should be able to indicate when task is done (change to car status).	7/10 users find this feature helpful when asked

All Other Items to Test

Claim	View	User Role	Goal	Measures	Evidence
Signing up for Automindr service and providing initial preferences and demographic information should be easy and not require previous car knowledge. *	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver	Bridging the gap of powerlessness and marginalization between car drivers by allowing the users quick and efficient methods of tracking and performing car maintenance.	Using prototype of sign-up procedure, observe testers (3 novice and 1-2 experts ) walk through prototype.	All testers should be able to satisfactorily sign-up with at least a 3 out of 5 rating on ease of use.
Users can add other users as buddies and indicate privacy settings.	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver	Able to view, receive feedback and gain knowledge from peers	Walkthrough of prototype-asking user to add a buddy and give different privacy settings	all users in study can add a buddy
Users (drivers and mechanics) can indicate (and add) a maintenance provider to associate with their car. Users can also optionally add a specific mechanic.	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver (depends on setting by primary driver)	Knowing where the car has been serviced	Ask a user to add a status change based on an oil change done by a professional a maintenance provider. Test for when the the maintenance provider is and is not already listed in AutoMindr.	majority of testers can input maintenance provider information into their maintenance log. 3/4 can successfully add a provider who is not in the system. 3/4 can indicate a provider that is already in the system.
Drivers can rate and review maintenance provider.	push messages via smartphone	Driver	Allows other users to see and provide the quality of services provided to others, allowing users to decide if they would like to have service provided by that maintenance provider.	Walk through of prototype-asking users to give a review and rate service providers	4/4 complete task successfully
Users that are mechanics can add additional information about their qualifications.	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Mechanic	Mechanics will have a place to give information about their work	Walk-through of prototype with a mechanic. The mechanic can easily determine the path to add their qualifications and the interface supports their needs for adding this information.	3/4 testers are able to complete task successfully.
With permission from the driver, the mechanic is prompted to change the car status (and changes maintenance log).	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver	The maintenance log will stay up to date with current services.	Walk-through of prototype with a mechanic after services have been provided and they are wanting to update the log stating that the service had been preformed.	8/10 are able to complete the task successfully.
After following through with a prompt activity, the driver is given additional motivational information to reflect on.	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver and Mechanic	The user finds the final information timely and motivational.	survey of different motivational forms (buddy stories, safety facts, money facts, etc.)	7/10 give a positive response.
user able to perform multiple maintenance tasks in one sessionon the smartphone app (suggestion via noah)…some sort of prompt queue that the user can see and do	push messages via smartphone/computer	driver	users are able to perform multiple tasks while they have time	at the end of walkthroughs, ask the user if they would have time for another Xamt of time task, and have a view of prompt queues (tasks, info-gathering, etc)	7/10 users find this feature helpful when asked
nag prompts: user is reminded of pending maintenance actions (did you change your tires yet?) *	push messages via smartphone and emails	Driver	users do not forget postponed maintenance tasks or to update maintenance log of changed car status	hypothetical situation…	majority of users find this useful
A user (driver or mechanic) can browse and/or search the maintenance log for historical information.	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver, Maintenance Provider, Mechanic	Users will always know the status of their car	Ask a user to find the last time tires were rotated in an example maintenance log.	9/10 are able to retrieve this information.
Users are able to understand and correct errors that AutoMindr detects.Error handling (wrong VIN, mileage goes down, etc.)	push messages via smartphone and emails	Drivers and Mechanics	If a user is asked to correct data, they can follow-through with the request.	AutoMindr notices that the recent mileage update is less than the previous update. A message is pushed to the user to correct this information. Use and A/B survey to find out if it easier to edit data or disregard data and be re-prompted later.	In one of the surveys (A or B), 8/10 respond favorable to error prompt.
Drivers can update car status (and changes maintenance log). [no prompt]	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver	Users will always know the current status of their car	Ask a tester to indicate in AutoMindr that they just got new tires. Testers are able to find where to input status changes and can input the status change. Additionally, survey testers to determine if they would like to prompted by AutoMindr with a broad question like "Have you changed the status of car recently?" Use this question to gather user input.	8/10 are able to complete the task successfully.
Below are predominately tasks to find paths and could likely be combined in one study.**
users can change settings for prompt language, prompt regularity, prompt timeliness, prompt locations, etc	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	All Users	Using a mock-up of the settings page (smart phone app and web home screen), testers can find the path to the change the settings		majority of users can find the settings screen
Drivers can easily add additional cars.	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver	Users will add and track detailed information about the primary car they drive for logging purposes	Using a mock-up of the home screen (smart phone app and web home screen), testers can find the path to the feature to add a car.	9/10 of testers find the location. 7/10 find it on first try.
Drivers can indicate secondary drivers of their car.	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver (also depends on setting specified by the primary driver)	Drivers may share a car and will be able to receive notifications if problems arise, also depending on setting able to update the log stating that the problem has been resolved.	Using a mock-up of the home screen (smart phone app and web home screen), testers can find the path add the secondary driver and give permissions
Drivers can find their maintenance log.	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver	Drivers can easily find where to go to find their car's history.
Drivers can find browse/search maintenance providers in AutoMindr	Available via computer or through smartphone application.	Driver	Drivers can search/browse history to easily find specific piece of information.	Ask testers to find the last time they rotated their tires in a prototype walk-through.	8/10 are able to find the date that their tires were last rotated.
User can find specs for replacement parts for their car	smartphone app or computer	driver	user can easily find view of parts that can go on a car with the specs for their car	user is given a task requiring them to find the specifics of a car part using AutoMindr	majority of users can easily find parts view